Sheet metal brake and hinge mechanism therefor

ABSTRACT

A bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material including a base ( 20 ) supporting a plurality of c-shaped members ( 22 ). Each c-shaped member ( 22 ) presents opposing clamping surfaces ( 24 ) for receiving a sheet metal material between the clamping surfaces ( 24 ). The assembly also includes a bending member ( 26 ) and a socket connection ( 28 ) rotatably supporting the bending member ( 26 ) on the base ( 20 ) for bending a piece of sheet metal material disposed between the clamping surfaces ( 24 ). The socket connection ( 28 ) includes a male portion ( 30 ) and a female portion ( 32 ) in sliding engagement with one another. A bearing strip ( 34 ) is sandwiched between the male portion ( 30 ) and the female portion ( 32 ) for facilitating relative movement between the male portion ( 30 ) and the female portion ( 32 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/623,468, filed Oct. 29, 2004, all of its contents incorporated herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to a bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A bending brake assembly generally includes a base and a plurality of generally c-shaped members supported by the base and each presenting opposing clamping surfaces for receiving a sheet of metal material between the clamping surfaces. Furthermore, the assembly generally includes a bending member and a socket connection rotatably supporting the bending member on the base for bending a piece of sheet metal material disposed between the clamping surfaces. The socket connection generally includes a male portion and a female portion in sliding engagement with one another or connected by a pin hinge connection to one another. Examples of bending brake assemblies and socket connections as specified are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,735, issued to Douglas G. Break and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,864, issued to Arthur B. Chubb.

Constant and continuous usage of the bending brake assembly causes the male portion to erode due to the frictional force generated by the surface of the male portion sliding against the surface of the female portion during the process of bending a piece of sheet metal material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The present invention provides such a bending brake assembly distinguished by a bearing strip being sandwiched between the male portion and the female portion for facilitating relative movement between the male portion and the female portion.

The bearing strip minimizes the erosion of the male portion due to the frictional force generated by the surface of the male portion sliding against the surface of the female portion during the process of bending a piece of sheet metal material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet bending brake assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an alternative perspective view of the base shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the sheet bending brake assembly;

FIG. 5 is an alternative vertical sectional view of the sheet bending brake assembly;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the sheet bending brake assembly;

FIG. 7 is an alternative perspective view of the sheet bending brake assembly;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the sheet bending brake assembly;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a socket connection of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is an operational perspective view of the socket connection shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material is shown including a base (20). A plurality of generally c-shaped members (22) are supported by the base (20) and each c-shaped member (22) presents opposing clamping surfaces (24) for receiving a sheet metal material between the clamping surfaces (24).

The bending brake assembly also includes a bending member (26). A socket connection (28) rotatably supports the bending member (26) on the base (20) for bending a piece of sheet metal material disposed between the clamping surfaces (24). The socket connection (28) includes a male portion (30) and a female portion (32) in sliding engagement with one another.

The bending brake assembly is distinguished by a bearing strip (34) being sandwiched between the male portion (30) and the female portion (32) for facilitating relative movement between the male portion (30) and the female portion (32). The bearing strip (34) minimizes the erosion of the male portion (30) which occurs due to the frictional force exerted on the male portion (30) when the male portion (30) slides against the female portion (32) due to the bending member (26) being used to bend sheet metal material.

The bending brake assembly also includes a first mechanical connection (36) that connects the bearing strip (34) to one of the male portion (30) and the female portion (32). The first mechanical connection (36) includes a projection (38) and a recess (40) for securing the bearing strip (34) to one of the portions (30, 32).

The female portion (32) and the male portion (30) are arcuate and the bearing strip (34) is arcuate and complementary to the portions (30, 32). The male portion (30) presents an arcuate upper surface (42) and the base (20) includes a pocket (44) defining a fulcrum engaging the upper surface (42) of the male portion (30) for guiding arcuate movement of the bending member (26) as the arcuate male portion (30) slides along the bearing strip (34).

The male portion (30) is configured for applying force to a sheet metal material so that the sheet metal material can be bent with precision and accuracy. The configuration entails the male portion (30) presenting a slanted corner (46) for bending the sheet metal material. The slanted corner (46) permits direct force to be applied to the sheet metal material at a particular location.

A rubber strip (48) is secured to the slanted corner (46) for preventing damage to the sheet metal material. In operation the bending member (26) is raised which causes the rubber strip (48) secured to the slanted corner (46) to directly contact the sheet metal material. The rubber strip (48) prevents the possibility of slippage by the bending member (26) once it contacts the sheet metal material. The rubber strip (48) also prevents the sheet metal material from being marred by scratches and dents which could occur if the bending member (26) directly contacted the sheet metal material during the bending process. Both the bending member (26) and the sheet metal material are formed of metal properties which make it likely that the sheet metal material could be damaged by impact of the two metals contacting each other directly during the bending process.

A second mechanical connection (50) secures the rubber strip (48) to the male portion (30). The second mechanical connection (50) includes a protrusion (52) and a nook (54) for securing the rubber strip (48) to the male portion (30).

A finger (56) extends from a distal end (58) of the male portion (30) for engaging the pocket (44) to limit movement of the male portion (30) into the pocket (44) in a pre-bending position of the bending member (26). The finger (56) also behaves as a stop for the male portion (30) by ensuring that the male portion (30) does not disengage from the female portion (32) during the bending process wherein the bending member (26) is elevated.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.

ELEMENT LIST

Element Symbol Element Name 20 base 22 c-shaped members 24 clamping surfaces 26 bending member 28 socket connection 30 male portion 32 female portion 34 bearing strip 36 first mechanical connection 38 projection 40 recess 42 arcuate upper surface 44 pocket 46 slanted corner 48 rubber strip 50 second mechanical connection 52 protrusion 54 nook 56 finger 58 distal end 

1. A bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material comprising: a base (20), a plurality of generally c-shaped members (22) supported by said base (20) and each presenting opposing clamping surfaces (24) for receiving a sheet of material between said clamping surfaces (24), a bending member (26), a socket connection (28) rotatably supporting said bending member (26) on said base (20) for bending a piece of sheet metal material disposed between said clamping surfaces (24), said socket connection (28) including a male portion (30) and a female portion (32) in sliding engagement with one another, and characterized by a bearing strip (34) being sandwiched between said male portion (30) and said female portion (32) for facilitating relative movement between said male portion (30) and said female portion (32).
 2. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a first mechanical connection (36) connecting said bearing strip (34) to one of said male portion (30) and said female portion (32).
 3. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first mechanical connection (36) includes a projection (38) and a recess (40) for securing said bearing strip (34) to one of said portions (30, 32).
 4. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said female portion (30) and said male portion (30) are arcuate and said bearing strip (34) is arcuate and complementary to said portions (30, 32).
 5. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said male portion (30) presents an arcuate upper surface (42) and said base (20) includes a pocket (44) defining a fulcrum engaging said upper surface (42) of said male portion (30) for guiding arcuate movement of said bending member (26) as said arcuate male portion (30) slides along said bearing strip (34).
 6. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said male portion (30) presents a slanted corner (46) for bending the sheet metal material.
 7. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a rubber strip (48) secured to said slanted corner (46) for preventing damage to the sheet metal material.
 8. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a finger (56) extending from a distal end (58) of said male portion (30) for engaging said pocket (44) to limit movement of said male portion (30) into said pocket (44) in a pre-bending position of said bending member (26).
 9. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 8 including a second mechanical connection (50) connecting said rubber strip (48) to said male portion (30)
 10. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second mechanical connection (50) includes a protrusion (52) and a nook (54) for securing said rubber strip (48) to said male portion (30). 